AH&LA And Broad Industry Coalition Call

For Comprehensive Immigration Reform

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

WWASHINGTON, DC, February 14, 2006. The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) announced today that a broad coalition of more than 450,000 businesses has joined forces to urge Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform. The coalition sent a letter to all U.S. Senators outlining its position on this critical issue. A complete copy of the letter, and a list of the signatories, can be found at www.ahla.com.

"The collective voice of the hospitality, travel, tourism and franchise industries is being heard on Capitol Hill this week," said AH&LA Executive Vice President for Public Policy Marlene Colucci. "We are facing a mounting labor shortage, and it is being felt in every congressional district across the country. Personal service is the lifeblood of the lodging industry. Unlike jobs in other sectors of the economy, these positions cannot be automated and cannot be outsourced. Hiring workers to fill critical service positions is one of the industry's most urgent issues."

Key points made in the letter:

O Any viable immigration proposal must accomplish three objectives: strengthen our national security, reinforce the rule of law, and address the current and future labor requirements of our economy.

O Our nation's immigration policy should also ensure that U.S. workers are not displaced by foreign-born workers. After decades of efforts to encourage native-born Americans to consider careers in the hospitality industry, we are faced with the reality that foreign-born workers are necessary to help fill the jobs where no Americans are available.

O Legislation approved by the House (H.R. 4437) focuses only on border and interior enforcement and misses the larger issue.

O The travel and tourism industry is the third largest retail industry in the United States and in 2004 directly provided 7.3 million jobs and generated $163.3 billion in payroll dollars.

O According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the lodging industry employed nearly 1.8 million people in 2004. BLS projects 16.4 percent growth in the lodging sector, resulting in the need for an additional 300,000 employees by 2014.

For more information, please contact AH&LA Governmental Affairs at (202) 289-3120.

AH&LA is a 96-year-old association of lodging properties and companies throughout the United States. Members are represented by AH&LA at the national level as well as by our partner state associations, which provide many additional cost-saving benefits. With some 10,000 members in the United States and internationally, AH&LA represents more than 1.3 million guest rooms. As the voice of the industry ensuring a positive business climate for hoteliers, AH&LA provides advocacy on Capitol Hill, education, marketing, information, and bottom-line benefits.

Enica R. Thompson

Manager of Media Relations

American Hotel & Lodging Association

1201 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 600,

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202.289.3153

Fax: 202.289.3128

www.ahla.com